Yo Adrian
August 24, 2010 by admncc
I thought “Yo Adrian” was a great way to start this post. As you know, that quote was made famous by Sylvester Stallone in the “Rocky” movies. But I started off with it because this post is about a new and quirky Philadelphia law that has many bloggers in an uproar.
The law requires bloggers to pay $300 for a business license. So, Marilyn Bess and Sean Barry, for example, who have made a whopping $50 and $11 respectively on their blogs over the last two years, have to pay $300 for a license. Because, according to this Washington Examiner article, Philadelphia thinks blogging is “a potential moneymaker, and the city wants its cut.” Bess said, “The real kick in the pants is that I don’t even have a full-time job, so for the city to tell me to pony up $300 for a business privilege license, pay wage tax, business privilege tax, net profits tax on a handful of money is outrageous.” When Bess complained to the city, she was told to “hire an accountant.” Apparently all Philadelphia-based bloggers who reported even the “smallest profits” on their taxes were sent letters informing them of this licensure requirement.
Now I don’t know about you, but blogging is a hobby for me. I do it on the side of my day job. I’ve picked up a few advertisers along the way and utilize tools such as Google AdSense. But this will never be my full-time job. I’ve spoken to Extreme John, Dani Cally and Jordashe Kingston about the money that can be made from blogging, since they’re all very successful. But to me, this will always be a hobby. And I think it is ridiculous for Philadelphia to require business licenses for people reporting $11 and $50 over a two-year period. Some states don’t even blink an eye until you’ve reported more than $200 in annual income from the Internet. My guess – as typical with Internet legislation, whomever proposed this law in Philadelphia has no knowledge whatsoever of blogging. Thanks to NeoConDon for the story lead.
All Posts / Business / Entertainment / General Moaning / Law and Order / Politics Blogging / Business Licenses / Dani Cally / Extreme John / Google Adsense / Jordasche Kingston / Marilyn Bess / Pay to Blog / Philadelphia Legislation / Rocky Movies / Sean Barry / Sylvester Stallone / Washington Examiner /
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This is unbelievable. I think that between this suggestion and the FCC monitoring blogs and giveaways, perhaps we should have these same taskmasters focus on, oh, I don’t know, CRIME. OIL SPILL? FED BUDGET? lol.
Isn’t there some pending legislation on taxing any air we breathe in with a waste tax for air exhaled. I’m pretty sure there is.
It doesn’t seem right that a city can tax a blog. I would argue that although I live in your city, my blog is hosted some other place. I’m not delivering a tangible product in your city.
Sheesh.
Philly is run by progressives, socialist, and communists. Those types of politicians want to control speech. It’s the same movement that is promoting net neutrality at the federal level. Most people will be able to stay under the radar and won’t get caught.
I hope this gets a run through the courts. This really seems like a tax on free speech. But remember, as soon as profits are being made, this becomes a business. Until then, these blogs are the same as someone printing up a pamphlet and handing it out on a street corner.
I think that is exactly what it is Don, “a tax on free speech” and I think it’s down right ridiculous. If Los Angeles decides to follow suit, which wouldn’t be surprising in our monkey see monkey do era, I have a feeling it will be a lot more than $300.00 for us bloggers and if that’s the case I will quit blogging so quick it will make their heads spin. I run a celebrity gossip blog, but at the end of the day, in the big picture of life, I couldn’t begin to care less about what they have going on so it would be no never mind to me. I agree with JennyMac, worry about something that needs worrying about.
From what I know, Philly will put a price on anything you do there… and even in if you don’t actually do it from within their walls.
I gotta hand it to em.. Stick to Cheese steaks!
BTW, check out this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zxCOKG3orQ It is the Philly Mayor droppin the beat on Rappers Delight. Perhaps if he goes big, they can drop some of these taxes
Interesting that controlling free speech is an issue on this post and freedom of religion isn’t on the last. It is the same amendment right, #1, I’m not confused am I. We are all entitled to those rights? Or is it just when it suits our point of view.
That is bullshit.
It blows my mind how absolutely uninformed Timmy is…
Suck my balls Don, you defend the constitution when it suits your needs and ignore it when it doesn’t. How is that for being informed, you Mongoloid!
That’s funny…when I played football, my nickname was “Monga”…as in Monga-Lloyd
But still, your absolutley incorrect in your premise as usual.
My anger with the things that go on in this country seems to grow more and more each year. The sad reality is that no one does any homework before coming up with these crazy ass laws, they just see $ signs. Screw who gets mauled in the end.
Here’s one for Florida and my indoor tanning salon and smoothie business.
We make real, fresh fruit smoothies with real milk (or skim by choice). Due to the fact that we use real milk and not a powder we are required to have a full restaurant license. Doesn’t sound like much but having this license also requires us to have a “grease trap” installed, that’s in that comfy $3500 install area, then for added fun we have to certify at least 1 individual with the Florida Division of Business Professionals (DBPR), that little handy test runs around $375 per individual. Pass or fail might I add. Also keep in mind the test is about everything restaurant, steaks, eggs, etc. We have milk 🙂
Oh yeah one last bonus thing that they hook you up with is a requirement that your grease trap must be vacuumed at least once a month by a contracted company. Bang $125 per month, per location. We have 6 btw.
The joys of being a small business owner truly don’t exist and sadly in this country if you stand to make any type of money, the government is going to call it a business. Now read what I said about the joys of business again.
P.s. You need to check the settings on that “AddtoAny” plugin, when you retweet with Twitter it won’t notify you because it’s defaulting to @addtoany instead of you brother 🙂
Am I the only person that gets off on watching the posters banter??